Romantic in Greece

Romantic programmes in Greece nearly all gather around two subjects — sunset and water. The capital of the genre is Santorini: the town of Oia on the rim of the caldera, where people converge to watch the sun go into the sea behind the volcano's silhouette. It can be watched from land, but the best angle is from the water: a catamaran goes out in the afternoon, stands opposite the white houses, and the sunset happens directly above you, with dinner on board.

The second subject is outings for two where the beauty needs no staging. A cruise to Gidaki on Ithaca, the beaches of Elafonisi and Balos on Crete, an evening catamaran from Athens along the Riviera with Greek food. A separate line is wine: private tours of Santorini's wineries with that same Oia at sunset closing the route. On Mykonos and Rhodes romance is fewer in number but built the same way: water, evening, a small party.

Practical notes. Sunset slots are the dearest and go first: on Santorini in season they are booked a week or two ahead. After sundown the deck is noticeably cold even in July — something with sleeves is obligatory. Departures depend on the wind: under the meltemi they are moved or refunded. A private charter is priced per vessel, not per head, so for two it is noticeably dearer each than for a group.